Weapons of the Spirit (1987) - IMDb

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90 min - Documentary - 1 September 1989 (USA)

7.0

Ratings: 7.0/10 from 59 users
Reviews: 4 user | 1 critic

The Astonishing Story of a Unique Conspiracy of Goodness.

Director:

Writer:

Stars:

Pierre Sauvage, Henri Héritier and Emma Héritier

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Weapons of the Spirit

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Weapons of the Spirit -- The astonishing story of a unique conspiracy of goodness. During World War II, in and around the village of Le Chambon in Nazi-occupied France, 5,000 Jews were sheltered by 5,000 Christians.

This is a story filmmaker Pierre Sauvage was born to tell: born and protected in Le Chambon, he returned just in time to preserve the memory.

Defying the Nazis and the French government that was collaborating with the Nazis, the mostly Protestant villagers of the area of Le Chambon provided a safe haven throughout the war for whoever knocked on their door.

“The responsibility of Christians,” their pastor, André Trocmé, had reminded them the day after France surrendered to Nazi Germany, “is to resist the violence that will be brought to bear on their consciences through the weapons of the spirit.”

There were many other uncelebrated individual and collective acts of goodwill and righteousness throughout the dark war years. But nowhere else did a persistent and successful moral consensus develop on a scale approaching what happened in the area of Le Chambon.

Released theatrically in 1989 in over 50 major markets, selected for over 20 film festivals, the highly acclaimed feature documentary was the recipient of many awards, including the prestigious DuPont-Columbia University Award in Broadcast Journalism.

President Barack Obama: "Not a single Jew who came there was turned away, or turned in. But it was not until decades later that the villagers spoke of what they had done—and even then, only reluctantly. 'How could you call us 'good'? they said. 'We were doing what had to be done.'"

Elie Wiesel: "If you wish to learn what more men and women could have done to save Jews, watch Pierre Sauvage's poignant documentary. It is superb!"

David Ansen, Newsweek: "An inquiry into the nature of goodness and a personal odyssey. Moving and provocative. Enormously uplifting. What an extraordinary story."

For more information: http://www.chambon.org

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Cast

Credited cast:
	Pierre Sauvage	...	Presenter
	Henri Héritier	...	Himself
	Emma Héritier	...	Herself
	Charles Gibert	...	Himself
	Joseph Atlas	...	Himself
	Hilde Hillebrand	...	Herself
	Édouard Theis	...	Himself
	Magda Trocmé	...	Herself
	Nelly Trocmé Hewett	...	Herself
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Adolphe Caritey	...	Himself
	Roger Darcissac	...	Himself
	Georges Lamirand	...	Himself - Vichy Youth Minister (also archive footage)
	Émile Sèches	...	Himself

Full cast and crew »

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Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

Oradour | Based On Novel

Taglines:

The Astonishing Story of a Unique Conspiracy of Goodness.

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

1 September 1989 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Les armes de l'esprit See more »

Filming Locations:

Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, Haute-Loire, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pierre Sauvage Productions See more »

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

USA: 90 min

Sound Mix:

Color:

Black and White | Color

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